Permeable non-woven fabric based packaging

ABSTRACT

Packaging using Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Film extends the shelf life of various fresh fruits and vegetables and vase life of fresh cut flowers by changing the atmosphere in which these living products are stored and respires. The high oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability of the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Film establishes an ideal atmosphere for the specific perishable item, and therefore extends its shelf life. The establishment of lower oxygen and carbon dioxide atmospheres inside packages using Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based film, also leads to reduction in the respiration rate of the perishable items. The reduction in the respiration rate prevents loss of moisture, production of metabolic heat, and yellowing, browning, reduction in production levels of ethylene. Thus the created atmosphere is able to extend shelf life, maintain high quality and preserve nutrients of fresh produce items by naturally regulating respiration of said produce/flower.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Filmwith high permeability towards oxygen and carbon dioxide, and isdirected more particularly to such a packaging system as is suitable forextending the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables (both whole andfresh cut), and vase life of flowers.

BACKGROUND

Produce is a living tissue that derives energy primarily by exchanginggases with its surroundings through the process of respiration.Respiration involves the consumption of atmospheric oxygen,carbohydrates, and organic acids by the plant tissue, and the consequentproduction and release of metabolic energy, heat, carbon dioxide andwater vapor.

The packaging systems provided in the art range from basic low densitypolyethylene bags to fairly sophisticated high oxygen transmission rategas permeable membranes.

SUMMARY

Some shortcomings of such packaging systems include the inability toestablish ideal oxygen and carbon dioxide atmosphere levels inside thepackaging simultaneously. Typically, since the permeation rate for suchpackages for oxygen and carbon dioxide is same, if the oxygen atmosphereinside the package is 5% the carbon dioxide atmosphere will be 21−5=16%.So in essence the sum of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels will be 21%.Therefore, atmospheres such as 2% Oxygen and 5% Carbon Dioxide cannot beachieved.

Further, many of the packaging systems in use control and/or inhibit thegrowth of ethylene levels inside the package containing produce.Ethylene is a ripening agent, which is produced naturally in freshfruits and vegetables as they respire. However, controlling the ethylenelevels does not guarantee shelf life or, in the case of flowers, vaselife extension, because the oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels needto be controlled simultaneously. Reduced oxygen levels caused increasedmetabolic activity and hence reduction in shelf life, and increasedcarbon dioxide levels leads to tissue softening, and fungal andbacterial growth.

Still further, use of polyethylene bags do not have the adequatepermeability needed for long term storage of produce and/or flowers.Issues such as development of anaerobic conditions when the oxygenlevels go below 1% and development of high carbon dioxide levelspermanently injure the produce; make the use of low density plastic bagsincapable in shelf life extensions.

Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in many areas of shelflife and vase life extension technologies.

An objective of the invention is, therefore, to provide a packagingsystem with a high permeable polymer coated non-woven fabric basedpackaging, which in essence by naturally establishing modifiedatmospheres inside a package containing fresh produce/flower caneffectively extends its shelf/vase life.

Produce is a living tissue that derives energy primarily by exchanginggases with its surroundings through the process of respiration.Respiration involves the consumption of atmospheric oxygen,carbohydrates, and organic acids by the plant tissue, and the consequentproduction and release of metabolic energy, heat, carbon dioxide andwater vapor. As the produce consumes oxygen and gives off carbondioxide, an equilibrium gas concentration is established in the package.The gas permeable non-woven film (gas permeable film) is capable ofproviding different package permeabilities in order to maintain specificoxygen and carbon dioxide levels in a package and maintain this optimumatmosphere even as the temperature is changing. As the produce or otheragricultural item consumes oxygen and give off carbon dioxide, theequilibrium gas concentration is established in the package. Thisprocess is a function of the permeability of the polymer and itsselectivity ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide. Thus, the createdatmosphere is adapted to extend shelf life, maintain high quality andpreserve nutrients of fresh produce items by naturally regulatingrespiration of the agricultural items.

Thus the created atmosphere is able to extend shelf life, maintain highquality and preserve nutrients of fresh produce items by regulating therespiration of the targeted items. Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric basedFilm, which allows for Carbon Dioxide gas to move in and out of thepackaging at a rate many times greater than that of Oxygen. By reducingthe atmospheric levels of Oxygen and increasing the atmospheric levelsof Carbon Dioxide within the packaging, the ripening of fresh produceand fresh cut flowers can be delayed, the produce's respiration andethylene production rates can be reduced, the softening of the producecan be retarded, and various compositional changes associated withproduce ripening can be slowed down.

A particular configuration of the highly permeable non woven fabricbased film is obtained by coating nonwoven fabric such as one with 50%polyester and 50% rayon, with a thin layer of polymer, the fabric basedsystem gets its structural strength from the fabric and the permeabilityfrom the polymer. This approach enables to reduction in the thickness ofthe polymer coating on the fabric, and yet maintains enough strengthwith the fabric, and therefore enhancing its Oxygen Permeation Rate to110,000 cc/100 in2/day/atm, or even up to 611,111 cc/100 in2/day/atm,with carbon dioxide permeability of at least 350,000 cc/100 in2/day/atm,with a maximum permeability of 3, 888, 889 cc/100 in2/day/atm at 13° C.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, afeature of the present invention is the provision of a packaging systemincluding a polyethylene bag, with a hole cutout at the center of thebag, thereof adapted to receive a permeable film, including an adhesivepatch for binding the film to the cutout part of the plastic bag, anelastic band for closing the mouth of the plastic bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description of particularembodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of one form of packaging system withthe Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Film illustrative of anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a an illustration an enlarged view of matter in circle A ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric basedfilm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Depicted below and in accordance with the drawings are example ofproduce storage and more particularly to such a packaging system as issuitable for extending the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables(both whole and fresh cut), and vase life of flowers. The configurationsbelow include formation of the gas permeable non-woven fabric film, ormembrane, for providing particular permeability according to apredetermined transfer rate and packaging configurations employing thegas permeable non-woven fabric for storing and transporting produceproducts stored therein.

The gas permeable non-woven fabric based film (film) is employed inpackaging for extending the shelf life of various fresh fruits andvegetables and vase life of fresh cut flowers by changing the atmospherein which these living products are stored and respires. The high oxygenand carbon dioxide permeability of the film establishes an idealatmosphere for the specific perishable item, and therefore extends itsshelf life. The establishment of lower oxygen and carbon dioxideatmospheres inside packages using the film also leads to reduction inthe respiration rate of the perishable items. The reduction in therespiration rate prevents loss of moisture, production of metabolicheat, and yellowing, browning, reduction in production levels ofethylene. Therefore, the created atmosphere is able to extend shelflife, maintain high quality and preserve nutrients of fresh produceitems by naturally regulating respiration of said produce/flower.

Formation of the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Film fabricationprocess includes

creation of these films. The components for the film includepolydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) base (This polydimethyl siloxane eitherconsists of >60.0% Dimethyl siloxane, dimethylvinyl-terminated,30.0-60.0% Dimethylvinylated and trimethylated silica, and 1.0-5.0%Tetra(trimethylsiloxy) silane, or >60.0% Dimethyl siloxane,dimethylvinyl-terminated and 30.0-60.0% Dimethylvinylated andtrimethylated silica, and curing agent mixed in the ratio 10:1,non-woven fabric (50% polyester, 50% Rayon). A mayer Rod (#3, whichcreates a film thickness of 0.27 MIL) was also used.

b. Mix the PDMS base and curing agent in a 10:1 ratio measured by weight

c. De-gas the polymer in a desiccator for approximately 30 minutes. Thisremoves any air bubbles resulting from the mixing process.

d. Pour this mixture on a non woven fabric, and roll the Mayer Rod #3 toform a uniform spread. Mayer rod #3 deposits a thickness of 0.27 MIL onthe fabric.

e. Preheat oven for 20 minutes at 170° F. (76.6° C.).

f. Cure the PDMS-coated fabric at 170° F. (76.6° C.) for 20 minutes topromote cross-linking.

Process to design packages using the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabricbased film. The respiration rates, ideal atmospheres, and ethylenesensitivities for various perishable items, including fresh fruits andvegetables and fresh cut flowers have been documented by University ofCalifornia, Davis. The information available was utilized in designingthese packages.

a. Identify the perishable item that is to have a shelf life extension.Items identified and tested have included, broccoli, cilantro, bananas,whole corn, lettuce, tomatoes, red seedless grapes, mushrooms,strawberries and cut flowers (roses, orchids, gerbera and tulips).

b. For example, in the case of bananas, the respiration rates, idealatmospheres and ideal storage temperatures were identified. The Oxygentransmission Rates (OTR) and Carbon Dioxide transmission Rates (COTR)for the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based film have already beentested by an independent test agency, Mocon Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn.The OTR and COTR values define the permeability for particularagricultural items, for example by measuring[[e]] the weight of theproduce, such as bananas. In a particular configuration, the OTR andCOTR for these films at 13.3° C. (an ideal temperature for bananas)tested at 111,735 and 699,000 cc/100 in̂2/day/atm respectively. Using theweights, respiration rates, ideal atmospheres, COTR and OTR of thesefilms, the surface area needed for these films can be calculated. Takethe produce bag, can be low density polyethylene bag (LDPE), highdensity polyethylene bag (HDPE), or any other non-porous material based,used to store bananas, and cut a hole in the bag equivalent to thesurface area needed for the film.

c. Using a good adhesive tape (such as electrical insulating tape),attach the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based film at the positionwhere the produce bag has a hole.

d. Place the produce, such as banana inside the bag.

e. Using a regular elastic band close the opening of the produce bag.

The produce bag with the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Films willnaturally attain the ideal atmospheres needed for bananas, and thereforewill extend its shelf life. Testing results have successfully been ableto extend the life of bananas to 20+ days.

As the produce or other agricultural items respire, they consume oxygenand give off carbon dioxide, and an the equilibrium gas concentration isestablished in the package. This process is a function of the gaspermeable film permeability and carbon dioxide to oxygen selectivityratio. Thus, the created atmosphere (typically 2-20% oxygen and 5-15%carbon dioxide) is able to extend shelf life, maintain high quality andpreserve the nutrients by naturally regulating respiration of theproduce and/or agricultural items. Lower oxygen levels substantiallyaround 2% reduce the metabolic activity of the perishable item (produce)and elevated carbon dioxide levels prevent rotting and fungal growth.Lower levels of oxygen also reduce the ethylene production of theperishable items. Predominantly perishable items with high sensitivitytowards ethylene benefit from avoidance of elevated ethylene levels.Ethylene promotes ripening of bananas, and therefore lower ethylenelevels tend to extend the shelf life of bananas. By changing the surfacearea and the thickness of the gas permeable film, the permeabilities tooxygen and carbon dioxide can be controlled, and therefore longer shelflife agricultural items such as fruits and vegetables is promoted.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particulardevice embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only andnot as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features ofthis invention may be employed in various and numerous embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that an illustrative configurationincludes a non-perforated polyethylene bag 1 with perishable item 2,with a hole cutout 3 at the center of the bag, thereof adapted toreceive a permeable film 4, including an adhesive patch 5 for bindingthe permeable film to the cutout part of the plastic bag and an elasticband 6 for closing the mouth of the plastic bag.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of matter in circle A of FIG. 1;

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that an illustrative exampleincludes a non-woven fabric 7 (50% polyester, 50% Rayon) with a coatingof polymer 8 consisting of polydimethyl siloxane either consistsof >60.0% Dimethyl siloxane, dimethylvinyl-terminated, 30.0-60.0%Dimethylvinylated and trimethylated silica, and 1.0-5.0%Tetra(trimethylsiloxy) silane, or >60.0% Dimethyl siloxane,dimethylvinyl-terminated and 30.0-60.0% Dimethylvinylated andtrimethylated silica, and curing agent mixed in the ratio 10:1.

Depicted below are examples of the gas permeable non-woven fabricemployed for storage and transportation of produce and vegetativespecimens in accordance with the teachings herein. Additionalinformation concerning post harvest conditions for various produce itemsmay be obtained from the website for the University of California, DavisDepartment of Plant Sciences and other sources as known in the art.

Example 1

Using post harvest information available for bananas from the Universityof California, Davis Department of Plant Sciences, ideal atmospheres forbananas was 2-5% Oxygen, 2-5% Carbon Dioxide, at storage temperature of13° C. (56° F.), with respiration rate of 38.7 ml CO2/kg.hr. With 30pounds of green bananas inside a package with the Gas PermeableNon-Woven Fabric based film, with thickness of 0.27 MIL, patch size forthe film was established as a square of length 4.15 inches and width4.15 inches. The oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability for such apackage is 407,407 and 2,592, 593 cc/100 in2/day/atm at 55° F. (13° C.).Using the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based packaging shelf life ofbananas was increased at a minimum 14 days. When compared with bananaswithout this packaging, the bananas turned black and mushy and wereinedible just after 10 days.

Example 2

Using post harvest information available for mangos at University ofCalifornia, Davis Department of Plant Sciences, ideal atmospheres formangos was 3-5% Oxygen, 5-8% Carbon Dioxide, at storage temperature of10° C. (50° F.), with respiration rate of 22 ml CO2/kg.hr. With 8.8pounds (4 kilograms) of mango inside a package with the Gas PermeableNon-Woven Fabric based film, with thickness of 0.27 MIL, patch size forthe film was established as a square of length 3.43 inches and width3.43 inches. The oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability for such apackage is 407,407 and 2,592, 593 cc/100 in2/day/atm at 55° F. (13° C.).Using the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based packaging shelf life ofmangos was increased at a minimum by 20 days. When compared with mangoswithout this packaging, the mangos turned black and softened and werenot inedible just after 12 days. These mangos had a distasteful odor tothem as well.

Example 3

Using post harvest information available for whole corn from theUniversity of California, Davis, ideal atmospheres for whole corn was3-5% Oxygen, 10% Carbon Dioxide, at storage temperature of 1.1° C. (34°F.), with respiration rate of 51 ml CO2/kg.hr. With 2.86 pounds (1.3kilograms) of corn inside a package with the Gas Permeable Non-WovenFabric based film, with thickness of 0.27 MIL, patch size for the filmwas established as a square of length 1.47 inches and width 1.47 inches.The oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability for such a package is 407,407and 2,592, 593 cc/100 in2/day/atm at 55° F. (13° C.). Using the GasPermeable Non-Woven Fabric based packaging shelf life of whole corn wasincreased at a minimum 24 days. When compared with corn without thispackaging, the corn became dry and inedible after 11 days.

Example 4

Using post harvest information available for tomato from the Universityof California, Davis, ideal atmospheres for tomato was 3-5% Oxygen, 3%Carbon Dioxide, at storage temperature of 13.6° C. (56° F.), withrespiration rate of 15 ml CO2/kg.hr. With 9.9 pounds (4.5 kilograms) oftomato inside a package with the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric basedfilm, with thickness of 0.27 MIL, patch size for the film wasestablished as a square of length 1.48 inches and width 1.48 inches.Using the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based packaging shelf life oftomato was increased up to 21 days. When compared with tomato withoutthis packaging, the tomato developed fungal growth by Day 11.

Example 5

Ideal atmospheres for fresh cut roses is 5% Oxygen, 5% Carbon Dioxide,with respiration rate of 19.6 ml CO2/kg.hr. With 33 pounds (15 kg)roses, packaged inside a package with Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabricbased film, with thickness of 0.27 MIL, patch size of for the film wasestablished as 3.57 inches by 3.57 inches. Using the Gas PermeableNon-Woven Fabric based packaging shelf life of cut roses was increasedup to 14 days. When compared with roses without this packaging, theroses developed Botrytis, by Day 4.

1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A Gas Permeable Film, consisting of a. a non-wovenfabric substrate, the substrate adapted for transmission of gases; b. apolymer coating on the non-woven fabric substrate, the polymer coatinghaving a thickness between 0.18 MIL-2.0 MIL, the thickness dependentupon a type of a produce item, the produce item responsive to a createdatmosphere resulting from the polymer coating, and the weight of theproduce items, the polymer coating having an oxygen permeabilityconfigured for preserving roses for between 14-28 days.
 9. The GasPermeable Film wherein the polymer coating has a carbon dioxidepermeability configured for preserving roses for between 14-28 days.